Consumer
Tencent leads $100m round for China education platform
Huohua Siwei, a China-based children's online education platform specializing in mathematics and science, has raised $100 million in the second tranche of the Series E round.
Archipelago acquires Malaysia's Coolblog, Ekuinas exits
Archipelago Capital Partners has acquired Malaysian dessert and drink chain Coolblog from government-backed PE firm Ekuinas based on an equity value of MYR75 million ($18 million).
Fund focus: BA Capital backs youth
ByteDance spinout BA Capital has raised $147 million for its second renminbi-denominated fund and is also raising a US dollar vehicle. Backing consumer brands that resonate with young people underpins the investment thesis
PE-owned Adore Beauty targets $193m Australia IPO
Australia’s Quadrant Private Equity is set to make a first exit from its growth fund with online beauty retailer Adore Beauty announcing plans for a A$269.3 million ($192 million) IPO.
Jafco backs Japan VR game developer
Japan’s Jafco has led an $8.5 million Series A round for local virtual reality (VR) game developer Thirdverse.
ADIA joins Reliance Retail investor roster
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has become the latest investor to follow its commitment to Reliance Industries-owned Jio Platforms with an investment in Indian conglomerate’s retail unit.
Deal focus: CVC's soft sell
CVC Capital Partners helped Softex Indonesia grow its market share by penetrating modern retail channels and launching an ESG program. A $1.2 billion trade sale exit to Kimberly-Clark is its reward
GIC backs Reliance Retail's India digitization drive
Singapore’s GIC Private has committed INR55.1 billion ($754 million) to the retail unit of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, joining a growing roster of blue-chip backers.
Prosus leads $12m Series B for Pakistan's Bykea
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers, has led a $12 million Series B round for Pakistan ride-hailing and courier app Bykea.
J-Star acquires Japan aquaculture business
Japanese lower middle market private equity firm J-Star has acquired local aquaculture industry supplier Dainichi for an undisclosed sum.
Investors commit $1.6b to India's Reliance Retail
General Atlantic, TPG and Mubadala Investment have doubled down on Reliance Industries’ plans to reinvent digital consumer services in India, following earlier commitments to Jio Platforms with investments in the conglomerate’s retail unit.
Deal focus: Green Monday finds mission-aligned investors
Green Monday, the Hong Kong plant-based food distributor behind the Green Common retail chain and OmniPork alternative meats, has raised its first institutional round of funding.
Taiwan tourism platform KKday raises $75m Series C
Taipei-based online tour package vendor KKday has closed a $75 million Series C round led by Cool Japan Fund and Taiwan’s National Development Fund.
IMM agrees $124m exit from Korea's Hollys Coffee
IMM Private Equity is set to exit its approximately 94% stake in Korean food and beverage chain Hollys Coffee to local digital payments services provider KG Inicis for KRW145 billion ($124 million).
Lever invests five China alternative meat start-ups
Hong Kong and US-based food tech investor Lever VC has confirmed five investments in alternative protein start-ups from its recently launched China fund.
Portfolio: Pioneer Capital and Natural Pet Food Group
Pet ownership is no longer a hobby – it’s an emotional market in the same vein as mother-and-baby. Pioneer Capital knows that grain-based kibble will not do
BA Capital raises $147m for renminbi fund, hits first close on dollar fund
BA Capital, a Shanghai-based venture capital firm also known as Black Ant Capital, has raised RMB1 billion ($147 million) for its second renminbi-denominated fund.
Ascendent invests $500m in Chinese supermarket retailer
Ascendent Capital Partners has made by far its largest investment to date, committing $500 million to Chinese supermarket retailer Wumart ahead of a planned Hong Kong IPO.
Iron Pillar leads Series C for Indian after-sales service player
Iron Pillar has led a $23 million Series C round of funding for Servify, an India-headquartered start-up that integrates parties involved in smart device retail with a view to improving customer service experience.
KKR to invest $755m in India's Reliance Retail
KKR has followed up its investment in Jio Platforms, the holding company for a variety of digital assets owned by Reliance Industries, with a INR55.5 billion ($755 million) commitment to the Indian conglomerate’s retail unit.
PAG poised to invest in Australian airline
PAG Asia Capital is in exclusive negotiations over a A$150 million ($109 million) investment in Regional Express Holdings (Rex), an Australian airline that emerged following the collapse of Ansett Airlines.
India gaming platform secures $90m Series C
SIG Asia, RTP Global, MDI Ventures and Pegasus Tech Ventures have led a $90 million Series C round for Mobile Premier League (MPL), an India-based mobile gaming platform.
Rise Fund, Swire back Asia plant-based food specialist
The Rise Fund, TPG’s impact investment vehicle, and Hong Kong conglomerate Swire Pacific have led a $70 million round for Green Monday Holdings, a Hong Kong plant-based protein provider.
Deal focus: COVID-19 prompts Modern Star exit rethink
Navis Capital Partners' 3.5x return on Australian educational resources supplier reflects how the business proved resilient in the face of COVID-19, but the pandemic still played havoc with the exit process